Silicone tape experiment update (4 month observations with before / after pics)
Hey guys, roughly 5 months ago I made a post about my experiment to find out whether silicone tape works. Here's my 4 month update on how the progress has been going so far:
(Read my original post for the full backstory: https://www.reddit.com/r/Keloids/comments/1psxnho/keloid_storytime_ramblings_plus_1_week_of/ )
4 Month Update:
Side by side comparison of keloid scar after 4 months
Surprisingly, there's been quite a few changes after only 4 months of using silicone tape (silicone tape usually takes 4-5 years for any results to show, so I had nearly 0 expectations). The overall colour of the keloid has lightened & it has flattened (in my previous update I wasn't sure, but now I can visually see & feel these changes).
The keloid used to be a dark brown / very bright pink, but the colour has now lightened quite a bit. It's not skin toned, but the colour is lighter and much more muted than before.
The puffy-ness of the keloid has also gone down a lot. You might need to look at the side view pictures (below) to fully get what I mean, but when I rub my finger on it, the center part of the keloid feels a ton flatter now. Previously, the center part of the keloid used to be the highest part and it was raised like a lump? Now, when I touch the keloid at that spot it feels more flat. The keloid is definitely still raised & lumpy, but it feels less raised than it was 4 months ago.
The differences are noticeable too when you compare their side views
The texture of the keloid has also continued to change - previously there were a lot of creases / wrinkles on the surface of the keloid. But now these creases have nearly all disappeared completely.
Another interesting thing is the darkened area of skin caused by me scratching the skin beneath my keloid has also nearly completely faded away (see my original post for more context). That area stayed dark for nearly 2 years, but after making sure the silicone tape covered that spot too, it lightened really quickly and is now much fainter yay.
However, one other thing I noticed is the size of the keloid has increased slightly. If you look at the two pictures, you can see that the ends on the left & right side are now longer. The keloid has flattened quite a bit though, and I've heard that keloids normally get bigger when they get flatter because the volume needs to go somewhere. So it's possible that that might be what is happening here. Another thing to take note of is my keloid was constantly growing before my experiement as well (it was an active, growing keloid). So I will continue to monitor & document how the keloid continues to evolve from here.
As for itching / pain, I've not noticed any significant differences from before / after using silicone tape. The keloid scar continues to still be a little bit itchy occasionally, and sometimes if I move my leg in an unexpected position I still feel a very slight sting. Which is pretty much exactly how it was before (and luckily the pain & itching is mild & doesn't bother me at the current level). But basically I've not noticed any changes in this department.
Other Observations: Keloid skin is dry / flaky after tape
Another thing I noticed is the skin of my keloid started flaking off after constant use of silicone tape. I pretty much use the silicone tape for ~23 hours non-stop daily, and I take it off when I'm showering.
This means everyday I peel the silicone tape off the keloid - and I have a feeling that the constant peeling is lowkey also peeling off the surface of the keloid in the process? It doesn't hurt at all when I peel the tape off, but I often see small pieces of dry skin flaking off and getting peeled off when I do this.
In the picture below, you can also see there are some small areas of darker keloid skin. These patches are actually areas of dead skin that's in the process of peeling off. I noticed over the past few months that these spots would darken and then peel right off after a few weeks (and then reverting back to the lighter pale pink beneath).
Which is kind of weird but at the same time I think it might actually help reduce the size of the keloid? Since I'm literally losing keloid mass due to the skin flaking right off.
Also, do note that this skin flaking doesn't hurt / itch at all - I don't feel anything when it happens. And in addition, I'm not doing anything to encourage / discourage the flaking - it's just something that happens due to me peeling the tape daily. I don't recommend anyone trying to force their keloid skin to peel by using force or harsh chemicals because I don't know what that would do (and likely the keloid would respond badly to that).
But yeah that's another interesting observation I noticed, and I don't think anyone else has mentioned this one yet!
Other Silicone Tape Care Tips:
Previously in my old update I said that the tape used to peel off when I sleep? That problem was fixed maybe 1 week after my old post. I figured out that I just need to round the corners with some scissors. Cutting the corners round really helps the tape stay on.
I also previously mentioned experimenting with waterproof tape to stick the corners down. I now need to say I completely DO NOT recommend anyone trying waterproof tape to stick the corners. This nearly ended in disaster for me (I accidentally hurt myself doing this) because the waterproof tape is insanely sticky and painful to remove (silicone tape is different, it's painless when you peel it). You don't need to use anything besides silicone tape - just make sure the corners are round.
The first box of silicone tape lasted 4 months for me, though I think it could have easily lasted 5 months+ or more because I wasted quite a few pieces on some experiments (and ended up replacing them after only 1 day of use).
I use each piece of tape for roughly 5-7 days. They get washed every other day with soap and water, then dried very carefully with a non fluffy towel.
But yep! That's my 4 month update for now. My keloid currently does not bother me very much and I don't mind if it stays there forever (that's why I'm willing to test out silicone tape on it like a guinea pig for the next 4-5 years).
I'll likely update if I see any new changes, but yeah I plan on testing it out for the full 4-5 years to really see if this does anything (so check in with me after that and I'll let you know if it actually works)